Dr. Robert B. Sloan Jr., who led both Baylor University and Houston Christian University during two of the most transformative periods in their histories, has died. He was 77.
Sloan suffered a massive stroke on July 3 and passed away early the next morning, surrounded by his family, according to Heights Church in Houston, where his son Dr. Paul T. Sloan serves as a pastor.
Houston Christian University, where Sloan had served as president for nearly 20 years, confirmed his death occurred Saturday morning and described his passing as sudden.
A Decade Shaping Baylor’s Future
Sloan served as Baylor University’s president from 1995 to 2005, a period Baptist Global News described as launching the school’s most ambitious expansion in its history.
A Baylor alumnus, he had already spent years on the university’s religion faculty and founded the George W. Truett Theological Seminary before rising to the presidency.
Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone said Sloan’s lasting legacy was the creation of Baylor 2012, a ten-year plan that pushed the school toward top-tier academic status while keeping its Christian mission intact. Livingstone said that vision continues to define where Baylor stands today.
After leaving Baylor, Sloan told the Houston Chronicle that he considered his most meaningful accomplishment to be weaving Christian values into the classroom experience while strengthening the university’s research standing.
Leading Houston Christian’s Growth and Transformation
In 2006, Sloan took over what was then Houston Baptist University and spent nearly two decades expanding it into Houston Christian University.
Under his leadership, enrollment grew by 119 percent. He also guided the school’s return to NCAA competition in 2011 and oversaw its 2022 name change to Houston Christian University, a shift meant to reflect its broader identity and mission.
University Board Chairman Ramiro Peña said Sloan’s leadership would continue shaping the school’s success for generations, calling his impact on the institution both measurable and lasting. Houston Christian baseball coach Clay VanderLaan remembered Sloan as one of the most remarkable men he had known, someone who led the university with his faith at the center of every decision.
Edward Crowell, executive director of Heights Church, called it one of the great privileges of his career to work alongside Sloan through difficult chapters in the church’s life, praising his wisdom and steady presence.
Sloan is survived by his wife, Sue Sloan, their seven children, and 24 grandchildren. Heights Church said Sunday services will continue as planned, with Dr. Chris Kugler expected to lead teaching and preaching duties. Funeral and memorial arrangements have not yet been announced by the family or either university.
Sloan’s decades of leadership left a mark on two Texas universities, shaping their academic identity, growth, and Christian mission well into the future.
